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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-01-22
22 January 2000 Saturday
[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN
[03] These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in
Turkey's press on January 22, 2000. The Anadolu Ajansi does not verify
these stories and does not vouch for their occuracy.
[04] HURRIYET (LIBERAL) - ---------------- UGUR DUNDAR AT TOP OF
HEZBOLLAH'S LIST Ugur Dundar, a famous television programme maker was at
the top of the list of people who would be killed by Hezbollah as it was
seen from the video tapes and CDs of Hezbollah seized in its villa in
Kavacık, Istanbul. Businessmen, journalists, moderate moslem people and
artists were in the death list of Hezbollah. The Hezbollah's order was also
to kill Ugur Dundar to celebrate the ''Feast of Sacrifice.''
[05] MILLIYET (LIBERAL) - ----------------- HEZBOLLAH MEMBER WORKING IN
PRIME MINISTRY It is determined that a computer operator working in the
Prime Ministry office in Ankara was the member of the Hezbollah. Abdussamet
Yıldız, the computer operator was captured by Ankara Police Chief who came
to the Prime Ministry office while the cabinet meeting was continuing.
[06] KURIS DOUBT IN KONYA One of the dead houses of the terrorist
orgnization Hezbollah was found in central Konya province. Four dead bodies
including one woman were recovered in the basement of a Hezbollah villa.
Police think that the woman body can belong to Konca Kuris, an Islamist
feminist writer who was kidnapped in 1998.
[07] SABAH (LIBERAL) - --------------- DEAD MACHINES GROW LIKE THAT The
members of the terrorist organization Hezbollah give code names to even
their children. They also give the name ''Hezbollah'' to their children.
The result:''A child whose name was ''Lazgin Cangir'' became the member of
the Hezbollah when he was 13 and then killed 19 persons when he was 15.''
Now his death sentence is wanted.
[08] COALITION TO CONTINUE FOR FOUR YEARS Mesut Yılmaz, the leader of the
Motherland Party (ANAP) said that the coalition leaders decided to stay in
power for a term of four years and said ''in leaders summit on January 12,
we reached an agreement to stay in power for four years and the elections
will be held in its regular period.''
[09] CUMHURIYET (LEFT) - ---------------- DANGEROUS THAN PKK Prime Minister
Bulent Ecevit said, ''we can't be sure whether terrorist Hezbollah
organization has connections with Iran. It is clear that they were
impressed by Iran's Humeyni regime. It is known that Iran has the desire to
export its regime. However, Iran's Hezbollah and Beirut's Hezbollah are
different. When asked what the latest information about the operation
against Hezbollah was, Ecevit said, ''this is very brutal. Hezbollah is
more dangerous than terrorist PKK. PKK was announcing its activities but
Hezbollah carries out activities very secretly.''
[10] PAPANDREOU: ''WE HAVE TO DESTROY TABOOS'' Greek Foreign Minister
George Papandreou said most of the problems between Turkey and Greece
stemmed from lack of understanding and dialogue. He said they could convey
their experience in their EU candidacy process to Turkey.
[11] UNLIMITED ARBITRATION Responding to questions of Parliamentary Justice
Commission members concerning the possibility of a failure in putting the
backward arbitration into practice completely, it was mentioned that 46
energy projects, 2 mobile phone licences and Public Works and Housing
Ministry's 10 build-operate-transfer projects were in the scope of the
arbitration.
[12] RADIKAL (LEFT) - ------------- HEZBOLLAH COMMANDER IN PRIME MINISTRY
Police who took action by the statements of one of the military
responsibles of the organization, captured a Hezbollah militant working in
the Prime Ministry. The military responsible of the organization said that
''he is my chief.'' Abdulsamet Yıldız was computer operator in the Prime
Ministry office. It was determined that he was transferred to the Prime
Ministry from Ministry of Agriculture when Necmettin Erbakan, the former
leader of the banned Welfare Party (RP) was the prime minister three years
ago.
[13] DEMIREL FORMULA SEEMS DIFFICULT The formula which foresees the
election of Suleyman Demirel as the President for the second time is only
supported by Democratic Left Party (DSP) and the True Path Party (DYP). The
aim of the Motherland Party (ANAP) is not to permit Mr. Demirel be the
President for another term.
[14] TURKIYE (RIGHT) - --------------- FOUR MORE DEAD BODIES IN KONYA
Police, which continues its operations against terrorist Hezbollah
organization, revealed another 'grave house' in central Meram township of
Konya province after Istanbul and Ankara. Police recovered four dead bodies
including a woman. Police is investigating whether or not that female dead
body belongs to Islamist feminist writer Konca Kuris who disappeared 1.5
year ago. Together with the dead bodies recovered in Meram, the number of
people killed by Hezbollah terrorists reached 17.
[15] THEY INFILTRATE EVEN INTO PRIME MINISTRY In an operation launched in
Ankara, a leading Hezbollah terrorist Abdulsamet Yildiz who is working at
the Prime Ministry Administrative and Financial Affairs Department was
detained. Questioning Yildiz, police took into custody four other civil
servants at the Prime Ministry.
[16] BRAKE TO PUBLIC PRICE INCREASES The government decided to implement a
2.1 percent monthly increase in electricity price. The ''automotic price
increase'' will be valid for also oil products. The proportional taxation
will be replaced by fixed taxation in calculation of tax on fuel oil.
[17] ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE) - ------------------ THERE IS QUAKE RISK IN
MARMARA The geological discoveries of the MTA Seismic-1 ship dashed the
hopes of people. According to the results, there is a great risk of an
earthquake in Marmara Sea; there are active faults under the Marmara Sea.
[18] DELAY INTEREST RATE REDUCED The government decreased the delay and
postponement interest rates on public credits by 50 percent. In accordance
with this decision, the delay interest rate was reduced from 12 percent to
6 percent, and the postponement interest rate was decreased from 8 percent
to 4 percent.
[19] PRIME MINISTRY CRISIS MANAGEMENT CENTER ANNOUNCES DEATH TOLL AS 894
[20] ANKARA - The Prime Ministry Crisis Management Center stated as of
18:00 local time on Friday that 894 people were killed while 4,948 others
were injured in the wake of the 7.2-magnitude quake which devastated Duzce
province on November 12. The Crisis Center said that the death toll rose
because the relatives of those who died and were buried just after the
quake, has just informed the Registry of Births. A total of 12,939
dwellings and 2,450 business places collapsed or suffered heavy damage in
the quake. A total of 51,694 tents have been distributed to quake survivors
while erection of 1,237 prefabricated huts were constructed. The Red
Crescent and the Turkish Armed Forces have dispatched 198 mobile kitchens,
173 mobile baths, 2 mobile bakeries, 14 laundries, a number of beds,
sleeping bags, blankets, duvets, stoves, and foodstuff to the quake-struck
area. In the disaster area, 273 doctors, 194 nurses, and 918 health staff
are working.
[21] ILLEGAL HEZBOLLAH ORGANIZATION STARTED TO BE DISSOLVED BY CONFESSIONS
OF DEMIR, HEZBOLLAH'S MILITARY WING RESPONSIBLE
[22] ANKARA - The fundamentalist terrorist Hezbollah organization started
to be dissolved by the confessions of Mahmut Demir, the military wing
responsible of the organization. The Ankara Police Department have marked
significant developments in the operations which were launched against the
terrorist Hezbollah organization. The police told A.A correspondent on
Friday that Abdulsamet Yildiz who was detained by the confessions of Demir,
was a top member of the organization. The illegal organization interrogated
the persons whom it abducted and killed, in central Konya province and
recorded these interrogations, the police said. The police noted that
Yildiz was working as a computer operator at the Prime Ministry. The
members of the terrorist Hezbollah organization who are working in the
public institutions, will be determined after the computer discs which were
seized from Yildiz's office and house are examined; the police stated. The
police stressed that Yildiz was confronted with Selman Ipek, the top member
of the illegal organization in Ankara, and Doctor Abdurrahman Alpsoy, the
political wing responsible of the illegal organization. All these persons
are continuously being interrogated by the inteligence officials to find
out the other actions of the illegal terrorist organization and the other
members, the police emphasized. The police pointed out that operations were
launched in various cities, including Konya and Mersin. Demir was shown the
photographs of Mehmet Serif Uprak and Bayram Ali Uprak and asked whether or
not the bodies which were found in Etimesgut district of Ankara, can be the
bodies of these two persons; the police said. The police noted that Demir
said that the decomposed bodies were not the bodies of Uprak brothers. The
security members continue their operations by thinking that they can find
two more bodies by taking into consideration that the Uprak brothers could
be killed.
[23] GREEK FM PAPANDREU SAYS ANNOUNCEMENT OF TURKEY'S EU CANDIDACY SUGGESTS
THAT DIFFERENT CULTURES AND RELIGIONS CAN LIVE TOGETHER IN EUROPE
[24] ISTANBUL - George Papandreou, the Greek Foreign Minister, said on
Friday that the announcement of Turkey's European Union (EU) candidacy in
Helsinki, suggests that different cultures and religions can live together
in Europe. Papandreou attended in the reception given in his honour by
Bartholomeos I, the Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarch. The partriarchate is a
''symbol'' which shows that the different cultures and religions can live
together, Papandreou noted. Drawing the attention to the good relations
between Turkey and Greece which are improving day by day, Papandreou stated
that he is very pleased that they are among the Moslems and in dialogue and
cooperation with the Moslems. Bartholomeos said that Papandreou's visit
improves the peace and friendship which occured between the Turkish and
Greek nations in the recent months. The Patriarchate has always believed in
peace and friendship in the spiritual, religious and cultural mission it
carries out for centuries, and tried to improve peace and friendship;
Bartholomeos noted. Bartholomeos stated that he and the Partriarchate have
been exerting efforts for the establishment of friendship and cooperation
between the Turkish and Greek nations for years. As the friendship winds
are blowing on both sides of the Aegean, they want to thank, congratulate
and support Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and Greek Prime Minister Costas
Simitis; Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and Greek Foreign Minister Papandreou,
who were appreciated by the whole world; Bartholomeos added.
[25] OPERATION AGAINST HEZBOLLAH IN KONYA - ONE OF DEAD BODIES BELONGS TO
KONCA KURIS
[26] KONYA - One of the four dead bodies that were recovered in the
basement of an expensive detached house in central Konya province on Friday
belongs to Islamist feminist writer Konca Kuris. Speaking to reporters,
Mehmet Genc, the brother of Konca Kuris, said, ''unfortunately, we saw that
we lost Konca Kuris. We identified the dead body.'' Konca Kuris was
abducted by three armed persons on July 17, 1998.
[27] TURKISH AND GREEK ASSOCIATIONS IN U.S. SUPPORT WARM RELATIONS BETWEEN
TURKEY AND GREECE
[28] WASHINGTON D.C. - Turkish and Greek assocations in the U.S. said on
Saturday that they support the steps taken by Turkey and Greece to improve
ther bilateral relations. Tolga Cubukcu, the Chairman of the Assembly of
the Turkish-American Associations and Andrew Manatos, the Chairman of
Hellene World Council issued a joint statement noting that they are very
pleased with the recent developments between the two countries. The
statement pointed out that George Papandreou, the Greek Foreign Minister
was the first Greek foreign minister who visited Turkey officially since
1962. It reminded that agreements were signed concerning tourism, illegal
immigrants, terrorism, money launder, organized crime, protection of
investments, protection of environment and double taxation between the two
countries during Papandreou's visit. The Turkish and Greek associations
also expressed pleasure over the invitation of Greek Premier Costas Simitis
to Turkey by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. The statement noted that Foreign
Minister Ismail Cem will visit Athens next month, adding that ''this and
such kind of efforts are very important contributions to peace and security
in the East Mediterranean.''
[29] TUSIAD DECLARES 2000 AS ''YEAR OF U.S.''
[30] WASHINGTON D.C. - The Association of Turkish Industrialists and
Businessmen (TUSIAD) declared 2000 as the ''Year of the U.S.''. TUSIAD's
Representative to Washington D.C. Abdullah Akyuz said the TUSIAD declared
2000 as the ''Year of the U.S.'' as a result of the positive economic
atmosphere stemmed from the peak reached in Turkey-U.S. relations, the
political stability and the Stand-By deal signed between Turkey and the
International Monetary Fund (IMF). Speaking to the A.A correspondent, Akyuz
said, ''Turkish-American relations are on the peak. We have to make use of
the current atmosphere at the utmost. The TUSIAD is planning to intensify
its works in the first quarter concerning the relations with the U.S.
within the framework of the Turkish-American Council meeting in March in
Washington D.C.'' Noting that the U.S. approached Turkey very positively
and the American business circles' interest was open to Turkey, Akyuz said
the opportunities that would be brought by Turkey's European Union (EU)
process should be explained to the American business circles better. Akyuz
stated that the international arbitration which eased foreign investment in
Turkey, banking reforms, political stability and anti-inflationist laws
created a positive atmosphere but foreign entrepreneurs still thought that
there was political instability in Turkey, adding the TUSIAD would explain
positive developments in Turkey to several circles.
[31] CEM AND PAPANDREOU VISIT HISTORICAL AND TOURISTIC SITES OF ISTANBUL
[32] ISTANBUL - Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and Greek Foreign Minister
George Papandreou visited on Saturday Sultanahmet Mosque and St. Sophia
Museum on Saturday. After staying in Dolmabahce Palace for 1.5 hours, Cem
and Papandreou and their wifes proceeded to Sultanahmet Mosque. Papandreou
shook the hand of Emrullah Hatipoglu, the chief imam of Sultanahmet Mosque
who informed them about the mosque detailly. Later they visited St. Sophia
Museum and they got information about the restoration works carried out in
the museum. Papandreou made a wish by putting his finger in the wish stone.
When reporters asked him what was his wish, he said he wished for ''peace
and friendship between the two countries.'' Ada Papandreou, the wife of
Greek Foreign Minister said that this is her third visit to Turkey and her
last visit was five years ago, adding ''I like Istanbul very much.'' ''What
do you feel in St. Sophia,'' asked journalists to her who said ''I can't
explain my feelings.'' Upon the questions of Greek journalists who came to
Turkey by friendship and peace train, Papandreou said that ''St. Sophia is
a very important historical centre. It is a synthesis of cultures of the
two countries.''
[33] COACH FALLS DOWN TO RAILWAY - ONE MOLDOVAN WOMAN KILLED, 23 PASSENGERS
INJURED
[34] ADAPAZARI - A coach fell down to the railway due to high speed and icy
road in Geyve township of Sakarya on Saturday killing a passenger and
injuring 23 others. The ''Ulusoy'' travel company's coach, on its way to
Adapazari, slipped, went off the road and fell down to the railway when it
took a curve fast. Nina Verlan, 26, a Moldovan woman, was killed and 23
other passengers were injured in the accident. Officials said Nina Verlan
had been slightly injured in an another traffic accident occurred 1.5 hours
before the accident and got in the coach together with her friend, Stella.
[35] OPERATION AGAINST HEZBOLLAH IN SIIRT - 20 PEOPLE DETAINED
[36] SIIRT - Police detained Saturday a total of 20 people in southeastern
Siirt province within the framework of nationwide operations against
terrorist Hezbollah organization. Sources said the interrogation of those
people continued.
[37] PREMIER ECEVIT:''HEZBOLLAH MAY HAVE INFILTRATED INTO SOME OTHER STATE
INSTUTITIONS''
[38] ANKARA - Premier Bulent Ecevit said on Saturday that the terrorist
organization Hezbollah could have infiltrated into some other state
organizations. Responding to a question, Ecevit said that ''this will come
out as the investigation advances.'' Such kind of developments show that
secularism is an advantageous implementation in respect of religion, Ecevit
said. Regarding the claims saying that Hezbollah could have been permitted
in its foundation process by some state organs as it struggled against the
terrorist organization PKK, Ecevit said that ''I can't say anything about
such claims without having any concrete findings. If such methods were used
in the past, it is clear that they were wrong. But no claim was put forward
about such kind of practices during the recent years.''
[39] TURKISH-GREEK PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP TRAIN LEAVES ISTANBUL
[40] ISTANBUL - The journey of ''Friendship-Peace Train'' between Dedeagac-
Istanbul-Dedeagac route which was organized by the cooperation of Turkish-
Greek railway administrations left Istanbul on Saturday. The train which
arrived in Sirkeci station of Istanbul on Friday with its 85 passangers
whose majority was composed of journalists, was seen off today by the
Janissary Band. Hasan Mollaogulları, the Director General of Turkish
Railways (TCDD) said that they signed three protocols in transportation and
railway issues with Greek Railways Administration officials the same day.
They would start regular railway journeys as of 28 May between Istanbul-
Salonica, he said and added that they will start a tourist tour to Athens
on April 17.
[41] PREMIER ECEVIT: ''THERE ARE EXPECTATIONS AND HOPES ABOUT KISLALI AND
MUMCU MURDERS''
[42] ANKARA - Premier Bulent Ecevit said on Saturday that there are
''expectations and hopes'' about the clarification of the murders of Ahmet
Tander Kıslalı and Ugur Mumcu. Ecevit said that the making the religion a
tool in politics can also target faithful people as it is seen from the
murders of the terrorist organization Hezbollah. ''I am sure that new
murders and unpleasent things will come out as long as this investigation
about the terrorist Hezbollah organization continues,'' said Ecevit. ''We
see in Adnan Oktar event how the manipulation of religious beliefs can
cause moral depressions. I am not willing to say 'hodja' to this person,''
he added. Responding to questions of journalists, Ecevit said that the
Minister of Interior Saadettin Tantan gave information to the cabinet
within the framework of the earlier statements issued to the public
opinion. When asked whether or not other persons were detained in the Prime
Ministry building due to their connections with the Hezbollah, Ecevit said
''No, I don't have such information. But I don't find it appropriate to say
things before Ministry of Interior and Directorate General of Security
inform public opinion.'' Ecevit said that the investigations about the
issue are carried out in a transparent way; but he can't give details.
Ecevit stressed that when the intelligence became effective, the
infiltration of Hezbollah to the state organs was prevented. Premier Ecevit
reminded that he will go to Davos next week on Thursday, adding the
concerned units prepared a brochure to attract foreign capital to Turkey.
''53 projects will be presented to foreign capital, these projects are
mainly related with infrastructure, energy and defense fields.''
[43] HEZBOLLAH OPERATION IN MARDIN - 52 PERSONS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY
[44] MARDIN - A total of 52 persons were taken into custody within the
framework of the operations carried out against the terrorist Hezbollah
organization in southeastern Mardin province on Saturday. The interrogation
of the captured persons, who are believed to have connections with the
terrorist Hezbollah organization, continues.
A.A
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